4.3 Preview: The Dragon Soul Raid And Transmogrification Rules

The Dragon Soul Raid

World of Warcraft patch 4.3 will offer players the opportunity to take the fight to Wyrmrest Temple and beyond, assisting Thrall and the Dragon Aspects as they seek to bring an end to the Black Dragonflight once and for all. 10- and 25-person raids will get to take on Deathwing himself, with three levels of difficulty to consider and epic gear to claim.

Forged by Deathwing during the War of the Ancients, the Dragon Soul harnessed the power of the other dragonflights, until it was ultimately destroyed. After recovering a version of the artifact from the Caverns of Time, Thrall and the allied dragonflights now rally at Wyrmrest Temple in a desperate bid to use its might to defeat Deathwing.

Created by the titans as a sanctuary for all Dragonkind, the crumbling Wyrmrest Temple is now the final hope for the forces allied against the black dragon Neltharion, once the Earth-Warder and protector of Azeroth, now Deathwing the Destroyer. It is here that the remaining aspects -- Alexstrasza, Ysera, Nozdormu, Kalecgos, and Thrall -- have gathered to empower the Dragon Soul -- Azeroth's last chance to stop the great behemoth. As they begin to charge the Dragon Soul with energy, Deathwing and his entire army assault Wyrmrest Temple. Players must thwart the attacking forces long enough for Thrall to charge the Dragon Soul.

Before you face Deathwing the Destroyer, you must prevail against six mighty bosses.

The most powerful elemental still under Deathwing's sway, Morchok -- once a passive guardian -- is now convinced that his only respite will come with Azeroth's demise. Morchok rages against the foundation of Wyrmrest Temple, Azeroth's last beacon of hope in the Hour of Twilight.

Countless ages ago, Warlord Zon'ozz and his soldiers waged endless war against the forces of C'Thun and Yogg-Saron. Millennia have passed, but the warlord still serves the chaotic might of the Old God N'Zoth. Deathwing has now unleashed this legendary faceless one to crush the defenders of Wyrmrest Temple.

Since the fall of the Bastion of Twilight, Yor'sahj the Unsleeping has eagerly assisted Deathwing, providing the Destroyer with the means to release more faceless ones from their prisons deep beneath the earth. Their numbers are endless and their power is beyond reckoning, and Yor'sahj intends to reap a grim reward for his faithful service.

Hagara the Binder, one of the first students of arcane magic under the Forsaken, showed surprising potential for one who had started learning so late in life. But in her undisciplined attempts to bind elementals into servitude, she was ensnared and twisted by the Windlord, Al'Akir. Now fiercely loyal to the Twilight's Hammer, Hagara binds others for her elemental masters to torment.

More an abomination of dark energy than a dragon, Ultraxion has spent his short life absorbing the essence of captured nether dragons. Ultraxion is the only twilight dragon Deathwing has praised, and his arrogance is overshadowed only by the crackling energies surging through his twisted form. Loyal to his master, Ultraxion swears to bring about the fall of Wyrmrest Temple.

Though once vast in number, only a few dozen twilight dragons now remain. Astride these hardened survivors are the last vestiges of the Twilight's Hammer's army: the elite drake riders of Deathwing's personal escort. Led by the insidious Warmaster Blackhorn, they move with unholy purpose, driven to protect their dark master.

When Deathwing first channeled the Dragon Soul's power against the other dragonflights, the massive energies that he unleashed threatened to break him apart. Rather than forgo this weapon, he had adamantium plates fused to his scales to hold his body together. Later reinforced with elementium, these plates are now his weakness -- the sole vulnerability to Deathwing's lethal presence.

Your assault on the massive Deathwing will begin a battle unlike any other. It is a fight so wide-ranging and intense that it comprises two unique encounters, taking place across Azeroth. Taking to the skies, players will parachute from soaring gunships to attack the monster mid-flight and attempt to weaken him by ripping away his armor, exposing the molten flesh beneath. Should they succeed, they will plunge into the depths of Maelstrom for the final encounter.

No adventurer has yet taken on an enemy so large and dangerous and lived to tell the tale. Will you?

Rules on Transmogrification

Since we announced the transmogrification feature coming to World of Warcraft with patch 4.3, we have monitored thousands of follow-up comments, questions and suggestions from players all over the world.

What follows is our current list of rules for transmogrification. This is a set of rules that we expect to change over time, and is not intended to be 100% comprehensive, but we hope that it can be referenced to answer most questions that players currently have about what they can and cannot expect to be able to do with transmogrification.

The character must be able to equip both items.

Only common (green), rare (blue) or epic (purple) items may be transmogrified. (exceptions: a select few of these items will prevented from being used to transmogrify if they are inappropriate)

Items must share the same armor type (examples: plate for plate, cloth for cloth)

Weapons must be the same weapon type (exceptions: Guns, Crossbows, or Bows)

Guns, Crossbows, and Bows can be used to transmogrify Guns, Crossbows, or Bows.

Main hand weapons can only be used to transmogrify Main hand weapons.

Off-hand weapons can only be used to transmogrify Off-hand weapons.

One handed weapons can be used to transmogrify a Main hand or Off-hand weapon.

Using an item for transmogrify makes it soulbound.

Using an item for transmogrify makes it non-refundable.

Using an item for transmogrify makes it non-tradable.

Heirlooms and Account Bound items can be transmogrified.

Heirlooms and Account Bound items can be used to transmogrify.

Legendary items cannot be transmogrified.

Legendary items cannot be used to transmogrify.

Fishing Poles cannot be transmogrified.

Fishing Poles cannot be used to transmogrify.

Mailing an item strips its transmogrification.

Placing an item in Void Storage strips its transmogrification.

Vendoring an item strips its transmogrification.

The displayed enchant will be that of the currently equipped item.

There may be individual items that are excluded from being transmogrified on the basis that they were originally added to the game as absurdities. (examples: a weapon that looks like a fish, or a chest piece that is invisible)

Comments

Comment by Runeweaver

Comment by Telkari

on 2011-09-21T20:37:38-05:00

In the words of Awesome Reach, with a one word difference, "Excited doesn't even #$%^ING DESCRIBE IT!"

The books regarding Deathwing, Malfurion, Illidan, all of them...my favorite books. I am most definitely looking forward to this. And thank you Blizzard for putting extremely valuable lore content, like going back in time for the Dragon Soul, in 5-mans so they are accessible to everyone - not just the raiders, most (not all) of which don't even appreciate the fun and amazing lore within the raid itself. :(

Comment by hotimer

on 2011-09-22T17:53:20-05:00

I'm really disappointed I don't get to fight Chromatus! Otherwise looks cool. I hope they bring in a new mechanic. Nothing specific, but it's great to get out of your usual rotation ^^Oh and,Deathwing is going to be the best fight ever ihmo :D

Comment by KingArthis

on 2011-09-22T18:12:32-05:00

Blizz I don't want to play through the same story line as Starcraft II. Please trash this crap patch and make it warcraft.

Comment by Rankkor

on 2011-09-22T19:53:10-05:00

Blizz I don't want to play through the same story line as Starcraft II. Please trash this crap patch and make it warcraft.

awww dammit, who let the door open? come on close it, strange stuff is getting inside.

Comment by taurenmoo812

on 2011-09-23T19:58:18-05:00

to further expand what Adamsm said:

Thrall realized that his mortal body CANT take the primal raw power of a dragon aspect, only a dragon can do that and survive. What he did in the book was use his conection to the elements to serve as a conduict for the spirit of the earth. that's all he did, he did not wielded the powers of the earth, simply used himself as a bridge between the spirit of the earth (who lacks a physical body) and the rest of the aspects, he then channeled that power towards their joint spell, and launched it towards chromatus.

I'm getting tired of this bullsh1t of thrall-the-earthwarder crap that everyone is so obsessed over. Maybe golden should had added at the end of the book "for extra emphasis for the slow readers, THRALL CANT BE AN ASPECT"

Don't sweat it Rank. Its the same as the guardian of tirisfal thing before that, people would sooner take a rumor spread via negative reaction, rather then seeing someone telling them its wrong without question. There being the same guys that don't read the warcraft books but act like they know as much about the lore as those that actully do read them.

Your always get those types, just feel content in knowing there are people that take the time to look into it.

Comment by orange1

on 2011-09-24T15:43:26-05:00

This most be the best patch in Cataclysm so far (y) :)

Comment by Desaray

on 2011-09-25T16:27:24-05:00

would you have to have the item you want it to look like to transmorgify it? example being i want my helmet to look like pally T2 do i have to have it?

Comment by Ashelia

on 2011-09-25T16:29:34-05:00

would you have to have the item you want it to look like to transmorgify it? example being i want my helmet to look like pally T2 do i have to have it?

Yes.

Comment by Drathellia

on 2011-09-25T19:14:00-05:00

Why no legendary weapon transmogrify if u own them...

Comment by Adamsm

on 2011-09-25T22:47:43-05:00

Why no legendary weapon transmogrify if u own them...

Cause you already own them?

Comment by Rankkor

on 2011-09-26T08:14:11-05:00

Why no legendary weapon transmogrify if u own them...

they said that legendary weapons where the Pinnacle of gear on this game, and as such they wanted them to remain as unique as possible. Therefore, you can't disguise your legendary into something else, nor can you disguise any weapon into a legendary.

They want legendaries to stick like sore thumbs for the players that have them.

Kinda makes sense really.

Comment by CaoimheX

on 2011-09-26T08:43:50-05:00

they said that legendary weapons where the Pinnacle of gear on this game, and as such they wanted them to remain as unique as possible. Therefore, you can't disguise your legendary into something else, nor can you disguise any weapon into a legendary.

They want legendaries to stick like sore thumbs for the players that have them.

Kinda makes sense really.

Yes, those people who do display their legendaries do stick out like sore thumbs, not just because they have a legendary, but because they are prancing around SW/Org, wearing weapons that they don't actually use. Every other weapon is getting a new lease on life, but legendaries degrade into nothing but vanity items. How much pleasure would the owners of legendaries get from being able to use those graphics again?

I believe that the real downside to allowing legendaries to be mogged with, is that too many people will farm the weapons from vanilla and BC.

Comment by Rankkor

on 2011-09-26T08:52:59-05:00

they said that legendary weapons where the Pinnacle of gear on this game, and as such they wanted them to remain as unique as possible. Therefore, you can't disguise your legendary into something else, nor can you disguise any weapon into a legendary.

They want legendaries to stick like sore thumbs for the players that have them.

Kinda makes sense really.

Yes, those people who do display their legendaries do stick out like sore thumbs, not just because they have a legendary, but because they are prancing around SW/Org, wearing weapons that they don't actually use. Every other weapon is getting a new lease on life, but legendaries degrade into nothing but vanity items. How much pleasure would the owners of legendaries get from being able to use those graphics again?

I believe that the real downside to allowing legendaries to be mogged with, is that too many people will farm the weapons from vanilla and BC.

EX-ACTLY

They WANT legendaries to be RARE, as in only once every 1000th player would have one.

They've acomplished this by making them BLOODY HARD to get, yes they are powerful, but since they are so hard to get, few players are willing (or capable of) doing the necesary work of getting one. Once they become obsolete, the job of getting one is still hard enough that most players are put off by it, since they'd be getting an obsolete weapon that would be useless in combat.

IF legendaries were able to be mogged, then, players would do the job to farm the old ones to imbue their new weapons with it, and then legendaries would become a common sight.

In order for them to be RARES, they can't let them be moggable.

Comment by CaoimheX

on 2011-09-26T09:12:40-05:00

In order for them to be RARES, they can't let them be moggable.

Of course.

I disagree with nothing you've said, far from it, I'm just wondering if there's a way around it though. Either making previous tiers' legendaries unobtainable, or somehow ensuring that the legendary was earnt while it was still current. For a legendary to be remain as a vanity item while other weapons can be re-used seems rather unjust.

They've acomplished this by making them BLOODY HARD to get, yes they are powerful, but since they are so hard to get, few players are willing (or capable of) doing the necesary work of getting one. Once they become obsolete, the job of getting one is still hard enough that most players are put off by it, since they'd be getting an obsolete weapon that would be useless in combat.

I specifically mentioned BC and vanilla, because many of those legendaries are either drops, or can much of the effort in obtaining them can be bought - Sulfuron Hammer is BoE, and the warglaives are drops from Illidan. The legendaries from Wrath and Cataclysm have so far all required months of farming. Many complain that obtaining legendaries should be a challenge and not a farm, but now I understand why Blizzard want us to farm for them - they want a display of significant commitment. That same commitment is not necessary for earlier legendaries.

Comment by Keelerak

on 2011-09-26T10:09:59-05:00

I specifically mentioned BC and vanilla, because many of those legendaries are either drops, or can much of the effort in obtaining them can be bought - Sulfuron Hammer is BoE, and the warglaives are drops from Illidan. The legendaries from Wrath and Cataclysm have so far all required months of farming. Many complain that obtaining legendaries should be a challenge and not a farm, but now I understand why Blizzard want us to farm for them - they want a display of significant commitment. That same commitment is not necessary for earlier legendaries.

It is necessary for earlier legendaries. Sulfuron hammer is just a part of sulfuras, you also need the eye - 4% drop from Ragnaros. If you killed him every week, you had sulfuras after about 6 months... For Thunderfury, you needed 2 quets item with 3% and 4% drop chance, again, only one chance per week... Athiesh had a similar quest line to current legendariesWarglaives had 5% and 4% chance, again, it took 5-6 months to get one of them. Thori dal also had 5%...Being drop does not mean it is easy to obtain. Yes it "only" requires to kill the boss, but you know, these quest lines also involve just killing bosses over and over, so it´s basically same. IMHO they were even harder to obtain, because you had to rely on RNG and roll against others

Comment by Drathellia

on 2011-09-26T11:42:55-05:00

Why no legendary weapon transmogrify if u own them...

they said that legendary weapons where the Pinnacle of gear on this game, and as such they wanted them to remain as unique as possible. Therefore, you can't disguise your legendary into something else, nor can you disguise any weapon into a legendary.

They want legendaries to stick like sore thumbs for the players that have them.

Kinda makes sense really.

Yeah but if u did the work to earn a legendary then u should be able to make your current weapon that ur actually using be able to look like it. It wouldn't make them anymore common place, cause u actually have to get it to drop first, If i own a legendary weapon and ur starting up this transmogrify thing it would only make sense that i should be able to make my current weapon i can actually use in combat be able to look like a legendary if i own it. Kinda sad that people just didn't hands down agree with me. It makes perfect sense.

Comment by Adamsm

on 2011-09-26T11:48:18-05:00

Why no legendary weapon transmogrify if u own them...

they said that legendary weapons where the Pinnacle of gear on this game, and as such they wanted them to remain as unique as possible. Therefore, you can't disguise your legendary into something else, nor can you disguise any weapon into a legendary.

They want legendaries to stick like sore thumbs for the players that have them.

Kinda makes sense really.

Yeah but if u did the work to earn a legendary then u should be able to make your current weapon that ur actually using be able to look like it. It wouldn't make them anymore common place, cause u actually have to get it to drop first, If i own a legendary weapon and ur starting up this transmogrify thing it would only make sense that i should be able to make my current weapon i can actually use in combat be able to look like a legendary if i own it. Kinda sad that people just didn't hands down agree with me. It makes perfect sense.

Not to Blizzard....and those others who disagree.

Comment by CaoimheX

on 2011-09-27T03:27:27-05:00

It is necessary for earlier legendaries. Sulfuron hammer is just a part of sulfuras, you also need the eye - 4% drop from Ragnaros. If you killed him every week, you had sulfuras after about 6 months... For Thunderfury, you needed 2 quets item with 3% and 4% drop chance, again, only one chance per week... Athiesh had a similar quest line to current legendariesWarglaives had 5% and 4% chance, again, it took 5-6 months to get one of them. Thori dal also had 5%...Being drop does not mean it is easy to obtain. Yes it "only" requires to kill the boss, but you know, these quest lines also involve just killing bosses over and over, so it´s basically same. IMHO they were even harder to obtain, because you had to rely on RNG and roll against others

RNG can be very favourable too - you could have the Sulfuras after your first Ragnaros kill in MC. A guildie recently picked up a warglaive on his first run through BT. Granted, there were only 4 or 5 people in the raid, but it dropped, and he won it.

The more committed you are, the more chances you have of getting the drop, that is true. But luck and a 6-month mandatory grind are not the same thing. Do not get caught by the inverse of the Gambler's Fallacy.

Comment by Keelerak

on 2011-09-27T07:25:55-05:00

RNG can be very favourable too - you could have the Sulfuras after your first Ragnaros kill in MC. A guildie recently picked up a warglaive on his first run through BT. Granted, there were only 4 or 5 people in the raid, but it dropped, and he won it.

The more committed you are, the more chances you have of getting the drop, that is true. But luck and a 6-month mandatory grind are not the same thing. Do not get caught by the inverse of the Gambler's Fallacy.

Yes, you can be lucky, but you can be also unlucky and farm it entire year.